Central North Island snowstorm

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Sun 04/07/2004 12:55

The Central NI obviously got quite a dumping last night, when forecasts were only for snow showers to 800 metres. If that forecast was correct, probably only the Desert Road would probably be closed, but apparently all roads around Ruapehu were blocked overnight, the snow levels certainly getting lower that 800 metres - webcam shows Ohakune blanketed this morning. Must've been an extra pool of cold air, colder than the airmass that crossed Canterbury yesterday afternoon, which even though delivering cold rain to Banks Peninsula, wasn't cold enough for snow to settle (though maybe it fell on the tops) on the hills above Akaroa.

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Sun 04/07/2004 12:59

I must add that all things are relative - this snowstorm comes on the anniversary of last year's massive polar outbreak, which was in another league altogether.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 04/07/2004 15:54

webcam shows Ohakune blanketed this morning.

Ohakune is 610m elevation.

Turoa Ski Field (Mt Ruapehu) reports 50cm new snow overnight with base now at 1.25m. Thats a fair start to their season. There will more snow falls this week in the ranges of both Islands. The Otago ski areas in particular will get some decent falls.

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sun 04/07/2004 20:17

...hello

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sun 04/07/2004 20:27

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sun 04/07/2004 20:41

...snow in the middle NI 1991

I'm trying to send this ruddy photo of a train stuck in the snow but ....nothing is happening. Frustrating

.....plus some other messages haven't come out, properly ????
John Gaul
NZTS

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Sun 04/07/2004 20:45

Its a train with snow all over the front in 15th August 2001

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sun 04/07/2004 20:52

I was trying to post a picture of the Overlander Express pausing at Karioi, in 15th August 2001 but it wouldn't work properly.
getting frustrated

buit with a

JohnGaul
NZTS

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sun 04/07/2004 20:54

.....but maybe Michael, if you have a copy of the calendar, you could photocopy and send a copy of the same ???

JohnGaul
NZTS

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Sun 04/07/2004 21:19

No Probs I will send it in the morning as long as you send us some decent weather

NZ Thunderstorm Soc wrote:.....but maybe Michael, if you have a copy of the calendar, you could photocopy and send a copy of the same ???

JohnGaul
NZTS

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Sun 04/07/2004 22:56

TV1 Weather has predicted low maximum temperatures for some places tomorrow - cloud cover should arrive before the air warms up. If predicted rain also arrives, we might even get another warm advection snowfall to low levels in inland South Island, and maybe even the central North Island. (Taupo predicted to reach only 8C after a -2C minimum) MetService hasn't suggested this possibility, but they didn't before the event of mid June either.

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Mon 05/07/2004 08:22

Here it is

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Mon 05/07/2004 08:23

Looks like the attachment thing is Fu@&'d

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Mon 05/07/2004 09:04

TIFF files don't display in browsers but the forum default allowed them to be posted. I've sorted that now.

Here's the image as a jpeg.

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Mon 05/07/2004 09:12

TV1 Weather has predicted low maximum temperatures for some places tomorrow - cloud cover should arrive before the air warms up. If predicted rain also arrives, we might even get another warm advection snowfall to low levels in inland South Island, and maybe even the central North Island. (Taupo predicted to reach only 8C after a -2C minimum) MetService hasn't suggested this possibility, but they didn't before the event of mid June either.

On TV this morning, the predicted maximums are higher than last night's forecast, but still come after frosty nights (frosty dawn in Chch, and high cloud has moved in now), so maximums could well be lower than the new predictions. Still no MetService mention of (warm advection) snow, but I wouldn't be surprised if it fell in places like the Mackenzie Country, Southern Lakes, and North Island Central Plateau, even if only lightly. I notice the Desert Road is still closed - must still be alot of ice there.

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Mon 05/07/2004 12:08

the snow levels certainly getting lower that 800 metres - webcam shows Ohakune blanketed this morning.

I've just read a post on the Ski-com weather forum, and the poster (who apparently had traveled that way to Ruapehu, once the roads had been cleared) said that it had snowed as low as Taihape on Saturday.

Still no MetService mention of (warm advection) snow, but I wouldn't be surprised if it fell in places like the Mackenzie Country, Southern Lakes, and North Island Central Plateau, even if only lightly.

This morning's AA Road Report warns of snow on Arthur's Pass.

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Mon 05/07/2004 16:44

The Trough in the Tasman looks active this afternoon. Lots of fresh Cb developing in it. Thunderstorms for the west of the South Island tomorrow look a sure bet.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Mon 05/07/2004 19:50

spwill wrote

Thunderstorms for the west of the South Island tomorrow look a sure bet.

Yes, looks to be a bit of a squall line there at the moment with unstable air in behind it. Also, notice isolated cb's just out to the west of the North Island (off Taranaki, Waikato). Some very distant static tonight.

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Mon 05/07/2004 22:03

On TV this morning, the predicted maximums are higher than last night's forecast, but still come after frosty nights (frosty dawn in Chch, and high cloud has moved in now), so maximums could well be lower than the new predictions. Still no MetService mention of (warm advection) snow, but I wouldn't be surprised if it fell in places like the Mackenzie Country, Southern Lakes, and North Island Central Plateau, even if only lightly.

As I predicted, some pretty low maximums in places today (according to TV1 Weather) - 4C in Oamaru, 7C in Nelson and Taupo, and 8C in Greymouth. (Nelson and Oamaru would most probably be the coldest relative to normal). Heard no further reports of snow in inland areas, but I wouldn't be surprised.

I've just been looking back in this site's 2003 archives at the big cold blast exactly a year ago. Even if snow got as low as Taihape last Saturday night, it still wouldn't compare to falls as low as about 100 metres in the Manawatu and near sea-level in Hawkes Bay last year. And this last southerly wasn't even cold enough down here to dump snow on Banks Peninsula's tops.[/quote]